The provincial government has moved to tighten wastewater management in this top tourist destination, warning that businesses without proper sewage connections will soon be denied permits as part of efforts to curb contamination in coastal waters.
In a statement Friday, the province thanked Senator Erwin Tulfo and the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Climate Change for bringing national attention to El Nido’s water crisis.
“His vigilance echoes our shared priority to protecting public health, preserving our coastal waters, and ensuring that El Nido remains among the country’s premier travel destinations,” it said.
Central to the campaign is the El Nido Sewage and Solid Waste Treatment Plant (STP), described as the first and only facility of its kind in the Philippines.
The plant currently treats about 37 percent of wastewater from the poblacion barangays, but provincial officials said full coverage is possible with stricter enforcement and stronger cooperation from businesses and households.
So far, 565 commercial establishments and 47 households are connected to the system, with subsidized septic tanks being installed for 66 families along Estero in Barangay Buena Suerte.
Still, around 18% of homes continue to rely on bottomless or substandard septic tanks, a situation the government says must be corrected with both subsidies and national support.
The province emphasized that “No Connection/Treatment, No Business Permit” will guide future enforcement, while facilities with their own treatment systems will undergo regular inspections.
Officials also confirmed that the STP is structurally sound and will remain staffed with trained engineers, with expansion of sewer pipelines now a priority.
Water testing will be conducted weekly at multiple coastal points, alongside inspections of wells and the establishment of a water-quality laboratory for faster detection.
“Only through collective effort can we protect our waters, keep our communities healthy, and preserve the natural beauty that makes El Nido and all of Palawan a world-class destination,” the statement concluded.
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